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Wonderful words fo sho. Message boards have a valuable place in our world still. Strangers can share awesome stories and explain things that can add onto someone else's experiences. We can do so much more with this forum than 'this group/album/era is overrated and if you don't agree, you're stupid'. Or 'people think this album is a 10, but I rated it a 9.1..it's okay I guess'.
Ewf's scope and vision was obviously ambitious. Unfortunately, I don't know if the members of ewf felt that they have succeeded. If not, it speaks more to the lofty nature of their goals moreso than the quality and power of what they put together.
Absorbing ewf all weekend has been fun for me. Maurice's words and vocals resonate at a 'can you dig iiiiiiit' clip throughout these albums. That is crazy considering the basically unbelievable instrumentation. Bailey on the other hand pierces through you...reasons live and imagination...it just goes through you. The whole experience is still overwhelming even though I heard so many of these songs and albums sooooo many times. It's a testament. Everyone shined on ewf songs. Where's the weak link? I don't hear it. It's impressive.
In also wanting to get into ewf --> Ohio players, but some other time. I don't remember us going into it. I'll put it like this...I went from ewf to op in the ride and my wife thought sugafoot was Maurice.
>I'll encapsulate everything I tweeted about Maurice and EWF
>here:
>
>This morning, as I went on my routine Saturday walk, I really
>got to thinking about what Maurice White meant to us. And to
>me, in particular. We share birth on the best day on the
>calendar. I spent my earliest years in some rather ...unlikely
>places. Places that should have been (and often were)
>isolating. Yet, through the music of EWF, I felt connected.
>This was by design.
>
>Earth, Wind and Fire is a uniquely Black American experience,
>yet it drew all across the African diaspora and made it one.
>
>In my lifetime, EWF has always been around. When I first
>became acquainted, they were already "made men" so to speak.
>The ALL 'N' ALL through RAISE! era, to be specific. They were
>already a reference point for the world. And still cranking
>out hits.
>
>In particular, when RAISE! came around, it was at a time when
>Black music started to become a little more "buttoned up" but
>Reese kept it real. I had "Wanna Be With You" on virtual loop
>this morning, and the absolute solidity of it all still takes
>me "home" in a way I can't describe. It was a sound that kept
>the listener in a safe place. That is EWF in a nutshell:
>despite what surrounds you, you have a place to go.
>
>And yet, Maurice's vision wasn't one that was content with
>"what surrounds you"; EWF challenged the listener in many
>ways. Subtly, they took the idea of a "Black spiritual" and
>turned it upside down.
>Maurice also introduced us all to the voice of one Phillip
>Bailey, who sounded like no one who really came before or
>after him. Also, Larry Dunn, still one of the most unique
>voices you'll ever hear on a keyboard instrument. Larry's
>interlude following "All About Love", a great song in its own
>right, is one of the absolute GOAT moments of recorded music.
>
>I was very young, but even then I knew what a big deal it was
>to hear Philllip Bailey strike out on his own, and where he
>came from.
>Later, reading liner notes, I understood why George Duke was
>the choice of producer. It wasn't too far from the house
>Maurice built. Whatever he touched, turned to gold. Musically
>and otherwise.
>
>EWF's song "Guiding Lights" from a couple years back didn't
>only just hit you right in the right feels, but I am 100%
>convinced at one point in the song, Phillip Bailey is
>channeling the spirit of Maurice White vocally, for one
>lyric.
>
>As I was reminded yesterday, the work of Maurice White was
>always wrapped in a positive, uplifting, affirming image. EWF
>encouraged you to be the best person you could be, despite it
>all. For that, the work of Maurice White will endure forever.
>
>
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